Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-22

utterly death-dsring, was his action in
rescuing me from the Lipans on both oC-
casions. And when 1 was alone with
him on the prairie, not even yourself,
Paul, could be more respectful than he!"
"Ah, Stells!" said Paul, mournfully,
when he noted how enthusiastically she
spoke of the nobleness of Lagona, 81
fear, indeed, that when you study your
heart you will find it preoccupied-1o
place there for hapless me-"
"Paul, you do me wrong!" said Stella
quickly. 81 am grateful to him-no
more "
"Gratftude is twin brother TO love"
said Paul.
ono, Psul, you err greatly in that idea
They are not Of the same blood. Graft
tude is slow and born only Of effect, or
rather of cause. Love is tAmeless steed,
which will net bear a Teiu-springing IN
an instant from nothing"
81 will not argue with you, dear Stella
I can only feel, not teach the passion"
said Paul.
"And yet you ere a professor" said
Stella, archly.
'You best me upon every point" said
Pau, with smile.
"Aud vet yield to him whom l have
conquered" said she, extending her
hand. which he took and pressed to his
lips.
CHAPTER XVII.
It was night again-stiIl, bright with
the moon rays, sottened only by hszy
clouds of snowy white, which drifted
slowly, like spent foam, over the ocean
face of heaven, fragrant too, with the
breath of the breeze fresh from its wan
derlngs among the flowers.
All was very still where Paul Msl3rSOn
and Stella sat in Il ClOse-twined boxer Dor
dered all around by the thiCk-grOwu orange
grove, although during the early hours Of
evening the songs Of Eegroes at their quar-
tiers, and the music of the rude banjOs to
which they danced, had been heard dis
tinctly.
And the face of young MalersOn glOwed
with purer aud hOlier light than ever
before, as he sat there, unrebuked-One
arm twined around her slender waist, the
other hand claspod in her own, and his
eyes looking fondly down in her upturned
face.
"Oh. Stella, to hear you say that you
will be my own-my fond and loving wife,
is too much happiness. It seems as if
must be in dream. Speak those blessed
words again, dear, dear Stella!"
"Paul, l am yours, now and foreVern'
she murmured.
Paul bent down his lips to meet hers,
but a hiss and q rustic, as if a serpent
were near, caused both to start to their
feet.
"SureIy there can be no serpents here
--one was never seen within the inclos-
ure. I have heard father boast of it,
though they are thick along the river and
on the prairie!" said S ella.
"Our ears may have been at fault
surely thought heard something!" said
Paul "But ell is still now-let US sit
down again"
"No, dear Paul-there is s strange chill
in nv tear-a fear as of some unseen
and impending danger. Ny thoughts
will turn back to the poor bird and the
flower which | saw yesterday" said
Stella, cliuging TO his arm and trembling
in spite OF her efforts 10 be calm.
"YOu are the bird and ! am the thorn |
Of DEATH" wildly sbfieked Ada McAlpin, |
in voice so natural that Paul in horror |
it, and was struck helpless as |
with paralysis.
And as she spoke the disguised girl !
from her conceelment with |
cleaning dagger in her hand, aiming her !
blow directly at the unprotected bosom Of |
poor Stella. Stella closed her eyes, but |
1T that instant, quick like q shadow, a |
form leaped between her and impending |
ieath-the steel descended descenGed |
nto the breast of Lagona, the COlnanche. |
In q moment Paul had recovered his |
and he seized the arm Of
Ada AID Wrested O revolver from her hand |
Is she was about to use it, while he eX-
claimed:
"Mad gil, what would you dor"
"Break your heart, as you have mine.
have failed once-beware Of the next
lttempt!" she exclsimed, and she broke
rom his grasp and fed away.
"Lagona is sIaiu-help him!" gasped
Stella, pointing to the stream of blood
which gushed from his noble breast.
"No; the squaw hand would have
killed the White Flower, but it was too
weak to reach warriors heart" said
IsgOna family. Aud then, in spite of
lis assumed strength, he sunk to the
ground.
Never did woman over lever, or Sis
ar over dying brother, bend more tear
ully, anxiousIy and tenderlY than did
Stella DeIorme over Lagona then. She
ore an azure scarf from Ter own fair
leck and with it sought, not vainly, to
TEN the ebbing tide of life, t. check the
errible flow from the CHASTITY wound.
"Let me die and go to the Iilppy hunt,
ng grounds while the smile O. the White
Clover is on my face, and ny heart is
warm under her TOUCH" sid Lagona,
aintly.
But it was not 50 to be. Paul aided
rst in staunching the won d, and then
urried TO the house and brought help to
ear the brave, true-hearted II lrrior in
After this was done, and ! IL had told
ow and by whom the wounU vas given,
earch was made everywhere i n the dis
uised "Lena"-Ada McAIpI1. But the
earch was made in vain--0t even a
race Of her could be found.
AS soon as Stella was disep saged, Paul
rev her aside; and withou concealing
single fact, revealed all vat had ever
ccurred between himself All Ada-told
t a connection founded u IN foolish
ASSIGN, and not upon love, v .ich he had
one to her and broken the moment that
G felt an affection for herself
Stella listened to him gu tlY until he
sd told all, when she said G, fly.
81 wish you had told me Lnis before,
aul"
"Why, would you nave u1thheld the
I'VE from me which you have given?"
c asked, and trembled for L answer.
"No, dear Paul, should no, but there
lould be no conceaIment between those
no love. Secrecy is the mother of dis r
'ust, and distrust Is the deadliest
olson Of Iove!"
"Iu the future you shall haYe no oc-
aston TO blame me even for that"